86% of non-commercial drivers at-fault in fatal crashes involving trucks this year, OPP says
Almost 20% of fatal collisions in Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) jurisdictions involved transport trucks this year, causing 31 deaths.
According to an OPP news release, 86% of the crashes were linked to poor behaviors on the part of non-commercial drivers. Commercial drivers were at-fault in the remaining 14% of the collisions.
The data paints a grim picture of how commercial and non-commercial drivers have been sharing the road.
Speeding, following too closely and improper passing are among the unsafe actions behind transport truck-involved collisions every year.
“Aggressive and careless drivers have no place on our roads, especially when sharing the road involves large commercial vehicles,” said Thomas Carrique, OPP commissioner. “Tragically, many families again this year are paying a devastating price – the senseless, preventable loss of their loved ones – because of drivers who make a conscious decision to not share our roads safely.”
Transport truck-involved collisions account for approximately 11% of overall motor vehicle collisions investigated by the OPP this year. In 2023, 8,622 of the 77,076 collisions investigated by the OPP involved commercial vehicles.
The OPP and the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) are joining police services throughout North America for Operation Safe Driver Week that runs July 7-13. During the traffic enforcement and education initiative, officers will be on the lookout for commercial and non-commercial vehicle drivers engaging in risky behaviors.
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Great point, Leo. These latest stats are alarming when compared to my era of commercial driving. While context is important when exploring statistics, it is also critical to identify causational factors in these Class 8-involved collisions. In any case, the trucking industry can’t–and shouldn’t be–happy with this latest OPP press release.
Just to clarify …
Of ALL the fatal accidents in Ontario, only 20% of them involved a transport truck. Of that 20%, 86% of those accidents were caused by non-commercial motor vehicle drivers, and 14% were caused by commercial motor vehicle drivers.
“The data paints a grim picture of how commercial and non-commercial drivers have been sharing the road.”
Well, that’s putting it kindly. What the data says is that serious, very serious, thought needs to go into how non-commercial drivers obtain, and maintain, a license to drive a motor vehicle in Ontario. In fact I would suggest that the driver’s license testing, issuing, and maintenance system needs a complete overhaul, that is of course provided the government finds 150+ highway deaths per year to be an unacceptable number.
A few years ago I believe the numbers North America wide were more along the lines of 23% of car/truck crashes caused by the commercial driver and 77% by the car driver. This looks like a significant improvement (or at least an improvement in Ontario). I am curious what might have led to this: higher standards? ELDs?
From what I can tell, people with standard licenses are very poorly trained drivers, as well as poorly educated drivers, when it comes to their understanding of traffic laws, common courtesy, and with regard to the limitations of large vehicles. If given the chance by vote, I would vote to limit the top speeds of ALL vehicles, based on vehicle type, weight, & size. I realize that most people wouldn’t agree with me on this, but most cars should be governed at speeds at or below 75-mph, except for law enforcement & other emergency vehicles. I would also support a bill that limits the top speed of 80,000-lb trucks at no more than 65-mph, in the name of public safety and fuel savings. The problem with passing this radical idea by vote, is that I haven’t met anyone yet who agrees with this idea. I hate watching all of the fatal accidents on the evening news. It’s very sad.
I do hope we are not applauding a 14% CMV at fault rate, when in my opinion, that is about 12% too high….